Pulmonary melioidosis in febrile neutropenia: the rare and deadly duet

Trop Doct. 2010 Jul;40(3):165-6. doi: 10.1258/td.2010.090461. Epub 2010 May 17.

Abstract

We present the first two fulminant cases of pulmonary melioidosis in febrile neutropenic patients with acute and varied presentations seen in our institution and their fatal outcome. A high index of suspicion coupled with microbiological confirmation can facilitate the administration of the appropriate therapy in cases of melioidosis that differ from other bacterial infections in terms of presentation and the response to antimicrobials.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / isolation & purification*
  • Cause of Death
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fever / complications*
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Melioidosis / diagnosis*
  • Melioidosis / drug therapy
  • Melioidosis / microbiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / blood
  • Neutropenia / complications*
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy
  • Neutropenia / etiology
  • Sputum / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents